Telephone dial attachment



y 6, 1947- E. c. FARNHAM 2,420,070

TELEPHONE DIAL ATTACHMENT Filed April 26, 1943 '2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. I I [var/1 CLIFFORD l-ZR/IHAM.

agan/v c- M y 1947- E. c. FARNHAM 2,420,070

TELEPHONE DIAL ATTACHMENT Filed April 26, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 16 FIG /0 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Patented May 6, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TELEPHONE DIAL ATTACHMENT Evelyn Clifford Farnham, San Bernardino, Calif., assignor to Stewart W. Chalice, New York, N. Y.

Application April 26, 1943, Serial No. 484,526

Claims.

This invention relates to dial telephones.

The invention will be described with particularity in connection with its use and application in conjunction with the well-known dial telephone, although, within certain of its limitations, it may have application in other associations.

It is an object of the invention to provide, for use in conjunction with a device such as the dial of a dial telephone, means to facilitate the reading of the indicia which are essential parts of the dial, in order that an operator may manipulate the dial with facility.

It is an object of the invention to provide means of the type hereinbefore mentioned, for facilitating the reading of the indicia in conjunction with a device such as a dial, wherein such means are embodied in a structure which may be assembled with the dial and the dial mounting by simple, easy operations, and without the hecessity for reconstruction of the dial or the dial mounting.

It is an object of the invention to provide apparatus of the type hereinbefore mentioned which may be manufactured cheaply and simply, and may be assembled easily with dial and mounting, all without requiring any skilled labor.

Other objects of this invention will be set forth hereinafter, or wil1 be apparent from the description and the drawings, in which is illustrated an embodiment of apparatus exemplifying the invention.

The invention, however, is not intended to be restricted to any particular construction, or any particular arrangement of parts, or any particular application of such construction or arrangement of parts, or any specific method of operation, or any of various details thereof, even where specifically shown and described herein, as the same may be modified in various particulars, or may be applied in many varied relations, without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention, practical constructions embodying certain details of the invention being illustrated and described, but only for the purpose of complying with the requirements of the statutes for the disclosure of an operative embodiment, but without attempting to disclose all of the various forms and modifications in which the invention might be embodied.

On the drawings, in which the same reference characters refer to the same parts throughout, and in which the exemplifying embodiment appears:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view, the body of the opening 2% provided in wall [5.

telephone set being shown by dot-and-dash lines, while the device embodying the invention is shown broken away in cross-section in part;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a detail of the telephone set, illustrating the arrangement of the device embodying the invention in relation to the dial of the telephone set;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a portion of the device, the cover plate being removed;

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of the portion of the device shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the other portion of the device, the cover being removed;

Fig. 6 is an elevational view of the portion of the device shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the cover for the portion of the device shown in Figs. 3 and 4;

Fig. 8 is an elevational view of the cover shown in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the cover for the portion of the device shown in Figs. 5 and 6;

Fig. 10 is an elevational view of the cover shown in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a detail view, in vertical cross-section, illustrating the arrangement of one of the lenses in the retaining device shown in Fig. l; and

Fig. 12 is a detail View, showing the arrangement of the device of the invention at the hook or stop limiting operation of the dial.

In order better to illustrate the invention, it has been illustrated as associated with an ordinary dial telephone l 9. Such a telephone may include a base l2 upon which is the usual rest M for the hand set. A wall 16, formed with base l2, provides a face is upon which dial mounting 28 is secured.

Since the construction of the parts within base l2 has no material importance in relation to the specific elements, such parts are not illustrated or described. Such construction may include a stub shaft 22, which may be provided bearings in, and may be retailed by means within, base I 2. This stub shaft extends through an At the outer end of shaft 22, a dial plate 26 is mounted. Shaft 22 extends beyond face It? an appreciable distance so that a space 28 is formed-between dial plate 26 and face 18. A guard 39 usually is secured upon mounting 20 to encircle opening 26. Such guard is positioned in space 28 and extends from mounting 283 into close proximity to dial plate 26.

A hook 32 may be a part of mounting 2G,;or may be formed by a bent arm 34 having a leg extended through an opening in wall It. Then the arm is bent to extend a shoulder parallel to face I8, then an upright section 42 in a position just beyond the periphery of dial plate 26, and finally to terminate in a finger stop 44 positioned immediately over the edge band 46 of plate 26, which provides a stop for the finger of the operator inserted into one of openings 48 in plate 26. A plurality of indicia 50 may be provided on mounting 20, by being engraved in or otherwise imprinted on face IS. The spacing of indicia 50 is substantially the same as that of opening 48-, so that, when dial plate 26 is at rest, each indicium is visible through a related opening in order to guide the operator in dialing.

In order to assure visibility for such indicia. when the dial is being used, magnifier 52 is associated with mounting 20 and plate 26. Magnifier 52 is located in space 28, and may comprise a retainer 54. Retainer 54 may be considered as a pair of sections 56 and 58. Although these sections may be formed in any desired manner, they are shown in the drawings as double-walled and arcuate.

Section 56 may be formed of a pair of segments 60 and 62. Segment 60 may have a bottom wall 64 and an upright wall 66, upright wall 66 being positioned at the outermost periphery of wall 64.

Segment 62, which provides a cover for se ment 60, may take the form of a flat plate. At the upper edge 68 of wall 86, a plurality of prongs 10 may be extended upwardly. Kerfs 12 may be formed in segment 62, through which prongs 10 are extended and then bent over, to anchor segments 60 and 62 together.

Section 58 may be formed from a pair of seg ments I4 and I6. Segment 14 may have a bottom wall I8, and an upright wall 80 positioned at the outermost periphery of wall I0. However, both walls I8 and 80 are interrupted at 82 to provide an opening for cooperation with upright section 42 of hook 32. At opening 82, both walls I8 and 80 are completely omitted, but an arcuate band 84 couples the two juxtaposed ends of wall 80, thus holding together the .two separate sectors 86 and 88 of segment 14.

Segment 15, like segment 62, may take the form of a plate. However, like segment I4, segment I6 is interrupted to provide an opening 90 to be associated with opening 82, an arcuate strip 92 holding together the two portions of segment I6. Segment 74 also has prongs I0, and segment 62 has kerfs I2 to retain the segments locked together.

In walls 64 and I8, a plurality of openings 94 are formed. Times or prongs 96 are sprung up from walls 64 and 18. The prongs are bent up from walls 64 and I 50 that a ledge or portion 98 extends beyond faces I00 of the prongs. In each recess I02 defined by a set of prongs 96 and their associated opening 94, a lens I04 is located. The lens may be constructed in any desired manner for a predetermined .focal effect in relation to the eye of an operator positioned at the usual distance from dial plate 26 for a desired magnification. The lens in the drawing is shown as having a flat face I06 to rest upon ledge .98 against and upon which it is retained by bending the prongs down against the convexed face I08 of the lens, whereby the lens is held fixedly in relation to the particular opening,

In segments 62 and '16, openings H0 are formed. Openings H0 are disposed so that, when the several segments are locked together, the openings of segment 62 will be in alignment with openings and the associated lenses of well 54, while the openings of segment 16 will be in alignment with the openings and the associated lenses of wall I8.

Immediately adjacent each end of wall 86, the wall is depressed inwardly to form a recess II I. A knob H2 may be upset from wall 66 to extend outwardly. At each end of wall 80, an extension I I4 is provided, such extension extending beyond the adjacent endv edge of wall 18. In each extension H4, a depression or opening H6 may be formed, such depression facing substantially radially inwardly. Thus, after the segments have been assembled by interlocking prongs and kerfs, the sections are brought together so that extensions H4 will ride over knobs H2 until depressions H6 snap into position over the knobs, and lock the sections together. A substantially smooth exterior for the construction will then be provided, as shown in Fig. 2.

As previously stated, lens I04 may be constructed in any desired manner so as to produce a desired focal effect in relation to the eye of an operator positioned at the usual distance from dial plate 26, in order to obtain magnification of indicia 50. Portions of segment I6 may engage against convexed face I08 in looking the lens in position. A single lens is in association with each recess I02; thus, when the dial plate is at rest, each indicia on dial mounting 20 has a single lens associated therewith, and that lens functions to magnify the particular associated indicium.

The assembly of magnifier 52 with a telephone, after lenses I04 have been assembled in the respective sections 56 and 58, illustrates the complete simplicity of the device. The two sections 56 and 5.8 are positioned in space 28 so that extensions H4 are in position to girdle wall 66. Section 58, with its notch H8 formed by the associated openings 82 and 90, band 84 and strip 92, receives upright section 42 of hook 32. The inner boundaries I20 and I22 of sections 56 and 58 finally will be stop ed by the wall of guard 30. Before this occurs, however, the ends of section 56 will have approached the ends of section 58, and knobs H2 will have slid along and become engaged in depressions H6. Now the magnifierwill be retained, locked beneath the dial plate, with the lenses properly located with relation to openings 24. The engagement of boundaries I20 and I22 with guard 30, and of notch H8 with section 42, will keep retainer 54 locked against any rotational movement.

Many other ha ges coul be ef ected n he particular apparatus, an in the part cular rodnets, and in the methods of operation and use, and in specific details thereof, hereinbefore set forth, without substantially departing from the invention defined in the claims, the specific de scription being merely of an embodiment capable of illustrating certain principles of the inven: tion.

What is claimed as new and useful is:

l. In combination with a dial mounting and a dial for a telephone, the dial mounting provid, ing a base, the base having a plurality of in? dicia thereon, an upright extending from the base and providing a support for the dial, a CD1! lar carried by the base around the upright, the dial and the upright being associated so that the dial is rotatably mounted in spaced relation to the base, the dial having a plurality of openings therethrough; each of the openings being positioned, when the dial and the base normally are not rotating relatively to each other, to p09DQrate with one of the indicia; a finger stop carried by the base and extending relatively to the dial; a retainer between the dial and the base and encircling the collar; a plurality of recesses in the retainer, and a lens in each recess; the recesses in the retainer, the dial and the base being related to dispose each lens to cooperate with one of the indicia and a related opening; the retainer engaging the finger stop to lock the retainer in position in relation to the indicia.

2. In combination with a dial mounting and a dial for a telephone, the dial mounting providing a base, the base having a plurality of indicia thereon, an upright; extending from the base and providing a support for the dial, the dial and the upright being associated so that the dial is rotatably mounted in spaced relation to the base, the dial having a plurality of openings therethrough; each of the openings being positioned, when the dial and the base normally are not rotating relatively to each other, to cooperate with one of the indicia; a retainer between the dial and the base, the retainer comprising a pair of arcuate sections, the sections having means for joining their ends together to encircle the collar; and a plurality of lenses fixed in the retainer; the retainer, the lenses, the dial and the base being related to dispose each lens to cooperate with one of the indicia and a related opening.

3. In telephone apparatus of the type wherein a dial and a dial mounting are associated for relative rotation, and wherein the dial mounting provides a base, and wherein the base has a plurality of indicia thereon, and wherein an upright extends from the base and provides a support for the dial, and wherein a collar is carried by the base around the upright, and wherein the dial is mounted on the upright for rotation relatively to the base, and wherein the dial has a plurality of openings therethrough, and wherein each of the openings is positioned, when the dial and the base normally are not rotating relatively to each other, to cooperate with one of the indicia, and wherein a finger stop is carried by the base and extends relatively to the dial; th combination of the dial and the base with a retainer between the dial and the base, the retainer comprising a pair of arcuate sections, the sections having means for joining their ends together to encircle the collar, a plurality of recesses in the retainer, and a lens in each recess; the recesses in the retainer, the dial and the base being related to dispose each lens to cooperate with one of the indicia and a related opening, the retainer engaging the finger stop to lock the retainer in position in relation to the indicia.

4. Means for use in conjunction with the dial and the dial mounting of a telephone, wherein the dial mounting provides a base carrying a. plurality of indicia thereon, and wherein an upright extends from the base and provides a support for the dial, the dial being mounted on the upright to rotate with relation to the base, and wherein a collar around the upright is carried by the base, and wherein a finger stop is carried by the base and extends relatively to the dial, and wherein the dial has a plurality of openings therethrough, and wherein each of the openings is positioned, when the dial and the base normally are not rotating relatively to each other, to cooperate with one of the indicia; the means comprising a retainer between the dial and the base and encircling the collar, a plurality of recesses in the retainer, and a lens in each recess; the recesses in the retainer, the dial and the base being related to dispose each lens to coopcrate with one of the indicia and a related opening; the retainer engaging the finger stop to lock the retainer in position in relation to the indicia.

5. Means for use in conjunction with the dial and the dial mounting of a telephone, wherein the dial mounting provides a base carrying a plurality of indicia thereon, and wherein an upright extends from the base and provides a support for the dial, the dial being mounted on the upright to rotate with relation to the base, and wherein a collar around the upright is carried by the base, and wherein a finger stop is carried by the base and extends relatively to the dial, and wherein the dial has a plurality of openings therethrough, and wherein each of the openings is positioned, when the dial and the base normally are not rotating relatively to each other, to cooperate with one of the indicia; the means comprising a retainer between the dial and the base, the retainer comprising a pair of arcuate sections, the sections having means for joining their ends together to encircle the collar, a plurality of recesses in the retainer, and a lens in each recess; the recesses in the retainer, the dial and the base being related to dispose each lens to cooperate with one of the indicia and a related opening, the retainer engaging the finger stop to lock the retainer in position in relation to the indicia.

EVELYN CLIFFORD FARNHAM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,061,097 Fordyce Nov. 17, 1936 1,759,205 Peyton May 20, 1930 1,639,891 Lukhie et al. Aug. 23, 1927 1,723,297 Norton Aug. 6, 1929 

